JP5571791B2 - LED bulb - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an LED bulb having a housing.

  LED bulbs or generally LED lighting devices are known in the art and are commonly used today in a variety of lighting applications. In addition to being very small in size, so-called high power LEDs provide high luminous flux and are very energy efficient.

  In recent years, LED bulbs have been developed for improved replacement, ie to replace incandescent or halogen bulbs currently used for home or office lighting. For such applications, safety is an important aspect since it is necessary for the user to be able to easily replace the bulb. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the user does not touch any energized electrical components, i.e. components activated by the operating voltage, especially when replacing the bulb. Electric shock can occur.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an LED bulb that can be handled safely without the risk of electrical shock.

  The object is achieved by an LED bulb according to claim 1, a luminaire according to claim 12, and a method of operating an LED bulb according to claim 13. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.

  The basic technical idea of the present invention is an apparatus for determining whether at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed in a housing and the bulb housing is still intact and provides sufficient electrical isolation in use. It is providing the LED light bulb which has these. In the absence of electrical isolation, the at least one LED is blocked so that the risk of electrical shock is reduced. Thus, since the LED bulb according to the present invention protects itself against electrical shock, it is advantageously not necessary to change the overall configuration of the luminaire, which is very cost-effective and furthermore Allows an improved replacement of existing lighting fixtures.

  The LED bulb according to the invention has at least one light emitting diode (LED) arranged in a housing. In the context of the present invention, the term “LED” can refer to any type of solid state light source such as inorganic LEDs, organic LEDs and solid state lasers such as laser diodes.

  Such light emitting diodes can be of any suitable type and color depending on the application. For general purpose lighting applications, the LED may preferably be a high power LED, i.e. an LED having a luminous flux in excess of 1 lm. The high power LED preferably supplies a luminous flux of over 20 lm, more preferably over 30 lm. For improved replacement applications, it is particularly preferred that the total luminous flux is in the range of 600-700 lm, which corresponds to a typical 60 W incandescent bulb.

  Certainly, the LED bulb is, for example, RGB-LED in applications where control of the color of emitted light is required, or to further increase the total luminous flux of the LED bulb depending on the application. It can have two or more LEDs.

  The housing can have any suitable geometry and dimensions to accommodate the at least one LED. The housing can be formed to be completely closed or as long as the housing provides protection against accidental contact with any live electrical components of the user in operation, for example One or more openings for ventilation purposes can also be provided. Preferably, the housing has at least one opening that allows a beam of light generated by the at least one LED to at least exit the housing.

  The housing can be of any suitable material such as metal, glass or plastic. Preferably, at least a part of the housing is transparent, for example formed from a transparent plastic material or glass.

  According to the invention, the LED bulb has an isolation monitoring device. The isolation monitoring device is configured to determine a defect in the housing and to disconnect the LED from the power source if such a defect is detected.

  In the context of the present invention, the term “defect” refers to any situation where the electrical shock protection properties of the housing can be lost. Thus, the term “defect” may refer to any failure of the housing, such as breakage or crack formation. Certainly, the term “defect” can also refer to a state in which the housing or part of the housing has been unintentionally removed, for example by an inadvertent user.

  If a defect is detected, the isolation monitoring device disconnects the LED from the power source as described above. In this context, the term “power supply” may refer to any type of power supply, such as a battery, a power supply unit or a main power connection.

  In this way, the present invention advantageously makes it possible to monitor the condition of the housing and determine whether the operation of the LED bulb is still safe. If the operation of the LED bulb is not safe due to a housing defect, the at least one LED is disabled to reduce the risk of electrical shock to the user.

  Indeed, the isolation monitoring device is preferably configured to disconnect any further non-insulated electrical components in the housing in the event of a defect in order to further reduce the risk of electrical shock. be able to.

  The LED bulbs can certainly be electrical or electronic circuits, lamp ballasts, power supplies, eg control electronics for color control in the case of RGB bulbs, reflectors or some other type of optical components, depending on the application. It can further have other parts.

  In the operating state, the at least one LED is powered by any suitable means. Preferably, the at least one LED is connected to a power source (power supply unit) such as a battery, a power supply unit, or a main power supply connection unit using, for example, an appropriate supply line. Indeed, the at least one LED need not be directly connected to the power source. This is because other electrical or electronic devices such as lamp ballasts or control units may be arranged between the LED and the power source, for example to control the LED or for power regulation. Because you get. Preferably, and most simply, the lamp ballast has a suitable series resistance, and the at least one LED has a substantially constant current depending on the supply voltage, the LED forward voltage and the series resistance. To be able to be operated on. Most preferably, the ballast includes a stabilizing circuit, for example to reduce the pulsation of the current or to reduce the temperature dependence of the LED bulb.

  The isolation monitoring device may be configured to determine the defect depending on the type and geometry of the housing and the specific application. For example, the isolation monitoring device can have a suitable detector, such as an optical detector (eg, a camera) for visual inspection of the housing.

  In order to disconnect the at least one LED from the power source in the event of a defect, the isolation monitoring device can have any suitable contact breaking means. For example, the isolation monitoring device can have one or more switches for temporarily or permanently disconnecting the at least one LED from a power source. These switches can be actuated, for example mechanically or electrically, in the case of the above-mentioned defects. Certainly, any other electrical or mechanical component such as a transistor, one or more triacs, MOSFETs or fuses could be used to disconnect the LED from the power source.

  Preferably, the isolation monitoring device is connected in series between the at least one LED and the power source, which simplifies the construction of the LED bulb.

  In order to reduce the risk of electrical shock to the user, it is sufficient for the LED to be disconnected from the power source, for example using a single pole switch, so that the current flow through the LED is stopped. The isolation monitoring device is preferably configured to remove a dangerous voltage from the terminal of the LED when the detection is made. In this context, the term “hazardous voltage” refers to a voltage that is dangerous to the user, for example 60V, as defined in the applicable electrical standards. If the LED bulb is adapted to AC / mains voltage, the isolation monitoring device is most preferably configured to disconnect at least one phase, eg supplied by a supply line.

  According to another preferred embodiment, said contact breaking means is configured for cutting all poles of said LED from a power source. In the context of the present invention, “all pole disconnection” is understood to mean that all electrical terminals of the LED are disconnected from the power source, ie no potential is present. The all-pole cutting of the LED significantly improves the operational safety of the LED bulb and provides further improved electrical shock protection.

  In particular, when the LED bulb is operated with alternating current, it may be difficult to determine the phase and neutral supply line, for example in improved replacement applications, so the LED bulb may be further improved to further improve the safety of the LED bulb. It is advantageous to disconnect all terminals from the power source.

  If the LED bulb has a lamp ballast adapted to the main voltage, the contact breaking means should be arranged on the main power supply side of the ballast so that the dangerous voltage mentioned above can be safely removed.

  If the LED bulb has an energy storage device (eg, a capacitor), electrical energy that is dangerous to the user may be present in the LED bulb even after the LED is disconnected from the power source. Therefore, it is particularly preferred that an energy dissipating device is provided to remove electrical energy. Such an energy dissipating device can have, for example, a suitable discharge resistance that drains the energy of the energy storage device. Alternatively or additionally, such an energy dissipation device can have a voltage limiter.

  Most preferably, the energy dissipation device is switchable. If there is a defect, the isolation monitoring device can connect the energy dissipation device to the energy storage device so that a safe discharge can occur.

  According to a development of the invention, the monitoring device comprises contact blocking means for permanently disconnecting the LED from the power source when a failure of the housing is detected.

  The configuration of the LED bulb according to the present embodiment further improves the safety of the device. This is because the LED will not be reactivated in the event of a dangerous attempt to tamper or repair the LED bulb.

  The circuit interrupting means according to this embodiment can be of any suitable type that performs permanent disconnection. Preferably, said circuit breaker means comprises one or more fuses, said fuses being removed from said LEDs in the event of a fault, for example using a switchable circuit arrangement provided for shorting said at least one fuse. Disconnect power safely. Most preferably, the at least one fuse is disposed in the supply line. It is particularly preferable that at least two fuses are provided for cutting all poles from the power source of the LED.

  According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing includes a base member configured to be removably engaged with a light bulb socket for supplying power to the LED.

  This embodiment advantageously allows a simple replacement of the LED bulb in the event of a defect. Further, the configuration allows the LED bulb to be easily used for retrofit replacement (ie, to replace incandescent or halogen bulbs). Preferably, the LED bulb is an improved replacement LED bulb.

  The base member can be of any suitable type depending on the application. For example, the base member can preferably have a thread (Edison screw) for a corresponding Edison-type screw-in bulb socket. Alternatively or additionally, the base member may have a bayonet base or a pin base, for example, for a corresponding bayonet attachment.

  The base member can have an electrical circuit for connecting the at least one LED and other components of the LED bulb to a suitable power source connected to a bulb socket. Preferably, the base member is adapted to the main power supply voltage. Most preferably, the isolation monitoring device is integrated with the base member, which reduces the complexity of the LED bulb. In the case of an Edison-type base member, it is further preferred that the isolation monitoring device is configured to disconnect at least the central contact of the base member, i.e. the phase, from the LED when defective.

  According to a development of the invention, the LED bulb is adapted to the main supply voltage. In the context of the present invention, the term “main power supply voltage” refers to a typical power supply network voltage, ie, a voltage higher than 48V. Usually, the main power supply voltage is between 100 VAC and 240 VAC.

  This embodiment allows the LED bulb to be used more easily for improved replacement applications. This is because no changes are required for the luminaire.

  Especially when the LED bulb is configured for line or mains voltage, the LED bulb is used to supply the at least one LED bulb with an appropriate operating voltage or current depending on the type of LED used. Can have additional electronic components.

  For example, a typical white LED can be operated with a DC voltage of 3V. In particular in such cases, the LED bulb may be provided with a suitable ballast unit as described above and / or a transformer, a rectifier / series capacitor circuit or some other suitable type of converter unit and / or a switching power supply. it can.

  Alternatively or additionally, according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one LED is adapted to the main power supply voltage.

  This embodiment advantageously further reduces the complexity of the device. The LED can be of any suitable type that is powered by a main power source. For example, the LED can be an ACLED, which can be operated directly with an AC mains voltage between 100V and 240V without the need for a transformer or converter unit. Alternatively, the LED can be a high voltage LED adapted to the main power supply voltage. In this case, certainly a rectifier or a suitable lamp ballast can be provided.

  As described above, the monitoring device can include any suitable detector for determining a defect in the housing, such as a photodetector. The monitoring device should preferably be adapted to the housing geometry and material to allow reliable detection of the defects.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the isolation monitoring device comprises one or more detection circuits that are at least partially integrated with the housing. The isolation monitoring device is configured to monitor the state of the detection circuit for determining the defect.

  This embodiment enables an efficient and reliable determination of defects in the housing by monitoring the state of the detection circuit that is at least partially integrated with the housing. That is, the housing defect also affects at least one detectable parameter, such as conductivity, capacitance or inductivity, of the detection circuit.

  The detection circuit may be applied by applying a conductive lacquer to the housing, for example by gluing or printing the detection circuit on the surface of the housing (this forms part of the detection circuit), or of the housing It can be integrated with the housing by any suitable means, such as by integral molding with at least one detection circuit. It is certainly sufficient that a part or area of the detection circuit is integrated with the housing.

  Most simply, and particularly preferably, the isolation monitoring device is configured to determine the fault and disconnect the LED from a power source when at least one of the detection circuits is interrupted.

  For example, the isolation monitoring device can be configured to monitor the current flow through the detection circuit to determine whether at least one circuit has been interrupted. The at least one detection circuit can be supplied with the current from a suitable power source. Preferably, the detection circuit is connected to a supply line for supplying power to the LED.

  If the LED bulb is adapted to the mains voltage, the at least one detection circuit preferably has at least one isolation device, such as a Y capacitor or a suitable high impedance resistance, thus in the event of a defect. The housing is not activated by dangerous voltages.

  According to another preferred embodiment, the monitoring device comprises a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the medium in the housing. The monitoring device is further configured to disconnect the LED from the power source if the measured pressure does not correspond to a predetermined threshold.

  This embodiment enables reliable detection of a failure of the housing by measuring the pressure of a medium such as coolant or air present in the housing.

  The pressure sensor can be of any suitable type, such as a mechanical and / or electronic device, for example, if the pressure does not correspond to the threshold value (this may indicate a defect in the housing). For example, the LED is disconnected from the power supply by operating the contact blocking means. The pressure sensor is preferably an active device that allows measurement of the actual pressure in the housing, but the pressure sensor allows a comparison between the pressure in the housing and the predetermined threshold. It is enough.

  In this context, the term “threshold” may refer to an absolute pressure value, a pressure range and / or a pressure gradient (ie, maximum change in pressure over time) that forms a reference value for the determination of a housing defect. it can.

  As mentioned above, the pressure sensor can have a mechanical device for determining the pressure in the housing in the simplest case. For example, the pressure sensor can have a membrane that is curved according to the pressure in the housing and the contact breaking means when the pressure in the housing changes until the at least one LED is disconnected from a power source. Drive.

  Preferably, the housing is hermetically sealed so that the medium in the housing can be pressurized. The pressure difference with respect to the ambient pressure should be chosen as small as possible, but it enables reliable detection of the defects and also changes in ambient pressure, long-term leakage effects and / or temperature dependent pressure changes. Should be selected large enough to prevent accidental blockage of the LED.

  Most preferably, the pressure in the housing is lower than the ambient pressure, which allows a very reliable detection of a failure of the housing.

  According to a development of the invention, the housing has a transparent cover member, which is configured such that at least part of the light generated by the LED is transmitted through the cover member. . The monitoring device is configured to detect a failure of the cover member.

  The cover member advantageously provides a beam of light for each application in a safe manner while advantageously maintaining the electrical shock protection properties of the housing.

  The cover member can be formed of any suitable material such as glass or transparent plastic material. The cover member can be formed according to the application and can have a lens, a collimator or any type of beam shaping element. In particular, when the cover member is formed of a plastic material, the cover member can be easily integrally molded with the beam shaping element. Preferably, the cover member has a spherical shape corresponding to the shape of the light bulb, for example.

  The monitoring device can be configured to detect the malfunction of the cover by any suitable means. For example, the monitoring device can have a camera for visual monitoring of the cover.

  Preferably, the monitoring device may include one or more detection circuits that are at least partially integrated with the cover member as described above. In this case, the isolation monitoring device is configured to monitor the state of the detection circuit to determine the defect.

  According to a development of the invention, the monitoring device comprises a photodetector configured to receive light transmitted by the cover member. The monitoring device is configured to determine a defect of the cover member from the received light.

  The detector may be configured to receive, for example, light generated by the LED and transmitted by the cover member (eg, transmitted, reflected, or guided by the cover member). When there is a defect, the transmission characteristic of the cover member changes, so that the defect can be easily determined.

  For example, some of the light generated by the LED will be reflected by the cover member due to a change in dielectric properties at the boundary, i.e. at the surface of the cover member. Accordingly, the photodetector can be arranged, for example, inside the housing so as to receive at least a part of the reflected light. When a defect, for example, removal of the cover member occurs, the reflected light beam decreases, so that the defect can be easily detected.

  Alternatively or additionally, the photodetector can be configured to receive light introduced into the cover member. A further fraction of the light generated by the LED can be reflected by a second boundary (ie, the outer surface of the transparent cover member) and then guided within the cover member by total internal reflection. In the case of a defect, as described above, the light flux guided in this way is reduced, so that the defect can be detected accordingly.

  The monitoring device is configured to determine the failure of the cover member from the detected signal by comparing a parameter such as an amplitude or a phase shift of the signal with a predetermined threshold as described above. Can do.

  In this context, the term “threshold” can refer to a value, range, and / or slope that forms a reference value for determining a housing defect. The threshold value may be an absolute value indicating the absolute signal amplitude, for example, or a relative value such as a maximum deviation of the input detection signal from the transmitted signal.

  The threshold value can be set or stored, for example, during a final quality check during the manufacture of the LED bulb. The LED bulb can also be programmed to emit a signal and "learn" signal characteristics that refer to an intact housing or cover. In this case, all manufacturing tolerances (e.g. transmitter strength and transmission characteristics of the cover) are essentially included.

  According to another preferred embodiment, the monitoring device comprises a transmitter for supplying a detection signal and a detector arranged with respect to the transmitter for receiving the detection signal transmitted by the cover member. Have The monitoring device is configured to determine a failure of the cover member from the detection signal.

  This embodiment enables further improved detection of the housing defect. This is because the arrangement of dedicated transmitters and corresponding detectors makes it possible to further adapt the isolation monitoring device to the specific cover member used.

  As described above, the transmitter provides a detection signal that is transmitted by the cover member (eg, transmitted, reflected, or guided by the cover member) and received by the detector.

  Next, the monitoring device determines the failure of the cover member from the detection signal by comparing a parameter such as an amplitude or a phase shift of the detection signal with a predetermined threshold as described above.

  For example, the monitoring device can be configured to compare the amplitude of the received detection signal with the amplitude of the transmitted signal and interpret the maximum deviation as indicating a defect in the housing.

  The transmitter can be configured to provide any suitable detection signal, depending on the material and dimensions of the cover member and the application. Certainly, the detector should be configured according to the detected signal received. The transmitter can be configured to supply an electromagnetic signal, such as a radio frequency signal, for example.

  Preferably, the transmitter is a light source and the detector is a photodetector. The transmitter supplies a beam of light that is transmitted by the cover member and received by the detector accordingly. The transmitter can be of any suitable type, preferably an LED such as an infrared LED. The detector must be at least sensitive to the light emitted by the transmitter and can comprise, for example, a photodiode or a suitable phototransistor.

  Preferably, the transmitter is configured such that a light beam is introduced and / or guided by the transparent cover member, which configuration allows for strong monitoring of the cover member.

  The transparent cover member forms a light guide as described above that transmits the light beam to the detector. As a result of the failure of the cover member, the light guiding characteristics of the cover member change, and the failure of the cover member is easily determined, for example, by comparing the amplitude of the received detection signal with an amplitude threshold. Enable.

  Preferably, the monitoring device is configured to measure the signal amplitude of the received detection signal and compare the signal with the amplitude of the transmitted signal.

  According to another preferred embodiment, the transmitter can be configured to excite a vibration signal within the cover member and the detector is configured to receive the vibration signal.

  In the context of the present invention, the term "vibration signal" is induced in the cover member and can be guided to the receiver by the cover member to determine defects, for example structural transmission noise. It refers to any mechanical signal such as (structure-born noise) or structure-transmitted sound.

  Thus, the transmitter can be configured to generate a force on the cover member, which allows the cover member to be dominated by the vibration signal. As described above, a defect in the cover member changes the transmission characteristic of the cover member, so that the defect can be determined from the received signal.

  The detector receives the vibration signal and determines a cover member defect by, for example, comparing the received signal with the transmitted signal and / or a predetermined threshold. Preferably, the monitoring device is configured to determine the defect from an amplitude and / or a phase shift of the detection signal.

  The transmitter and receiver can be of any suitable type. Preferably, the transmitter and / or detector comprises a piezoelectric actuator for exciting and receiving the vibration signal.

  According to the present invention, the luminaire includes at least one LED bulb as described above, and a bulb socket that is detachably engaged with the LED bulb.

  The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in another view. FIG. 3 schematically shows a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 in another view. FIG. 5 schematically shows a third embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 in another view. FIG. 7 schematically shows a fourth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of FIG. 7 in another view. FIG. 9 schematically shows a fifth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of FIG. 9 in another view.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of an LED bulb 1 according to the invention. The LED bulb 1 has two LEDs 2, which are of the ACLED type configured to be connected directly to a main power supply of, for example, 220V. The LED 2 is disposed in a lamp housing (ie, a cover member) 3, which is formed from a transparent plastic material and provides undirected light and the directional characteristics of a typical incandescent bulb. It is spherical to reproduce.

  The lamp housing 3 provides electrical isolation for the LED 2 and its electrical connections to reduce the risk of electrical shock to the user. Sufficient electrical isolation is particularly important here, especially when replacing the bulb, since the user usually contacts the housing 3 of the bulb 1.

  The housing 3 is a pressure-sealing type and is filled with air having a pressure slightly higher than the ambient pressure.

  The LED bulb 1 further includes an isolation monitoring device 4 and a ballast unit 5 including a series resistor 6 for supplying a constant current to the LED 2. In order to connect the LED bulb 1 to the main power source, an Edison screw cap 7 for detachably engaging with a normal Edison bulb socket is provided.

  As can be seen from FIG. 1, the isolation monitoring device 4 is formed integrally with the base, and is connected in series between the base 7, that is, the power source and the LED 2.

  The isolation monitoring device 4 has two switches 8a and 8b for all-pole disconnection of the LED 2 in the case of a failure of the housing 3, i.e. to disconnect all terminals of the LED 2 from the main power supply. The switches 8 a and 8 b are mechanically actuated by the force of the membrane 9 provided on the wall of the housing 3. Since the membrane 9 is made of a thin and flexible plastic material, the differential pressure between the housing 3 and the surroundings causes the membrane 9 to bend.

  Under normal operating conditions, i.e. when the housing 3 is intact, the internal pressure of the housing 3 causes the membrane 9 to bend as shown in FIG. The curvature of the membrane causes the switches 8a and 8b of the isolation monitoring device 4 to remain closed as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. Thus, the light bulb 1 is in an operating state and is connected to the main power supply via the screw-type cap 7.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the event of a failure of the housing 3, the pressure in the housing 3 decreases, causing the membrane 9 to return to the non-curved state. As a result, the switches 8a and 8b are opened and the LED 2 is disconnected from the main power supply in all poles, so that the LED bulb 1 can be easily replaced by the user without risk of electric shock.

  3 and 4 show a second embodiment 1 'of the LED bulb. The embodiment of FIG. 3 corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that the isolation monitoring device 4 has a fuse 10 to further increase the safety of the LED bulb 1 ′ as will be described below. doing.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3, the fuse 10 is inserted in series with the supply line between the base 7 and the corresponding switch 8a. Since the switch 8b is provided as a two-way switch, the corresponding supply line can be connected to either the LED 2 or the bypass line. In the case of a failure of the housing 3, the switches 8a and 8b disconnect the LED 2 from the main power source as described above. However, the switch 8b connects the corresponding supply line to the bypass line 11 and thus shorts the fuse 10. As a result, the fuse 10 disappears, thereby permanently disconnecting the LED 2 from the power source. In this way, the LED 2 is permanently placed in a non-light emitting state.

  According to this embodiment of the LED bulb 1 ′, after the failure of the housing 3, the LED bulb 1 ′ cannot be shifted to the operating state. Thus, such a failure causes a permanent disconnection of the LED 2, thereby further improving the safety of the LED bulb 1 ′.

  Since the ballast unit 5 and the fuse 10 are provided on the main power supply side of the monitoring device 4, the series resistor 6 will limit the short-circuit current when the fuse 10 is short-circuited. In this way, the thermal and current conduction requirements of the monitoring device 4 and in particular the switch 8b are advantageously reduced. The fuse 10 should indeed be selected to blow at a relatively low rating to reduce the thermal load.

  Another embodiment 1 "of an LED bulb is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This embodiment 1" of an LED bulb is a 2 for disconnecting the LED 2 in the event that the isolation monitoring device 4 fails the bulb housing 3. The present embodiment corresponds to the above-described embodiment, except that the fuse 10 and the single switch 8 are provided. Furthermore, the ballast unit 5 is provided between the monitoring device 4 and the LED 2.

  The switch 8 is actuated by the mechanical force of the membrane 9 as described above. During normal operation of the LED bulb 1 ", the membrane 9 holds the switch 8 in the open position. Upon failure of the housing 3, the switch 8 is closed, as can be seen from FIG. The fuse 10 disappears, thus disconnecting all the terminals of the LED 2 from the power source.

  In order to achieve safe operation, these fuses 10 should be of the same type or exhibit consistent melting behavior so that both fuses 10 are guaranteed to disappear simultaneously.

  A fourth embodiment 1 "'of an LED bulb is shown in Figures 7 and 8. The embodiment 1"' of an LED bulb is used by the isolation monitoring device 4 to determine whether the housing 3 is defective. Although it differs in having the detector 12, it substantially corresponds to the embodiment described above.

  The light source 11 is an infrared LED and is configured to introduce emitted light into the housing 3. The emitted light is guided by the housing 3 by total internal reflection and received by the detector 12.

  The light source 11 is driven to emit a signal by a controller (for example, a microcontroller) 13 of the isolation monitoring device 4, and the signal is received by the detector 12 through the housing 3. The controller 13 then compares the amplitude of the received signal with the transmitted signal. These amplitude differences are then compared to a maximum amplitude threshold to determine a housing 3 defect. Since such an amplitude threshold is indeed dependent on the material, geometry and dimensions of the housing 3, its exact value should be adapted to the corresponding application.

  When the housing 3 is intact, the difference in amplitude between the transmitted signal and the received signal is smaller than the amplitude threshold. If the housing 3 is damaged as shown in FIG. 8, the light transfer characteristics of the housing 3 are substantially changed and the optical signal is attenuated. As a result of the attenuation of the signal, there is a relatively large difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal above the threshold. In this case, the controller 13 activates the switches 8a and 8b to disconnect the LED 2 from the main power source and to allow safe removal of the LED bulb 1 "'.

  As shown, the controller 13 is powered from the corresponding power line 14, which in the event of a defect, in order to improve the safety of the LED bulb 11 "' The light source 11 and the detector 12 are arranged to be deactivated and removed from the power source.

  A fifth embodiment 1 "" of an LED bulb is shown in Figs. The present embodiment 1 "" of the LED bulb substantially corresponds to the embodiment described above. Here, the housing 3 presents a flat light emitting surface for supplying directed light. Further, a controller 13 a connected to the detection circuit 15 is provided instead of the configuration of the light source 11 and the detector 12.

  As shown, the detection circuit 15 meanders inside the housing 3. The detection circuit 15 is printed on the surface of the housing using a conductive lacquer and is thus formed integrally with the housing 3.

  The detection circuit 15 is connected to the ballast unit 5 so that a small current flows through the detection circuit 15 during normal operation. In order to provide sufficient electrical isolation in the case of a defect in the housing 3, two high voltage Y capacitors 16 with a relatively small capacitance (several nF) are provided. In this way, since the detection circuit 15 can be regarded as being isolated from the main power source, no dangerous voltage is present on the transparent housing 3 in the event of a defect.

  The controller 13a monitors the current flow through the detection circuit 15. When the housing 3 is defective, the detection circuit 15 is cut off as can be seen from FIG. The controller 13a detects the interruption and disconnects the LED 2 from the power source.

The present invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description. It should be understood that such illustration and description are illustrative and exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, the present invention
-Instead of ACLEDs, high voltage LEDs, standard DCLEDs, laser diodes or other types of LEDs are used,
An LED bulb 1, 1 ', 1 ", 1"', 1 "" isolation monitoring device 4 and / or ballast 5 is arranged inside the bulb housing 3,
-A single LED or more than two LEDs are used;
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, instead of overpressure, the housing 3 is provided with a pressure lower than the ambient pressure,
-Instead of the ballast unit 5, depending on the application and the type of LED, either a ballast unit is not used or another type of ballast unit is used,
-Instead of the switch 8, an electronic switch such as a MOSFET and / or a triac, preferably having a sufficient isolation voltage rating and leakage current rating, is used;
-Instead of Edison type screw cap 7, other types of removable caps such as bayonet caps or pin caps are used for detachable engagement with the bulb socket,
In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10, one of the fuse configurations of FIGS. 3-6 is used to permanently disconnect the LED 2 from the power supply in the event of a housing 3 failure;
7 and 8, instead of the light source 11 and the light detector 12, a transmitter configured to excite the vibration signal in the housing 3 is used, while receiving the vibration signal. A detector configured in
In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, a high impedance resistor is used instead of the capacitor 16;
The detection circuit 15 is connected to another power supply that is safely isolated from the main power supply instead of being connected to the main power supply, and / or the current flow through the detection circuit 15 instead of the controller 13a is For example, if electronic switches or relays are used, they are used directly to drive the switches 8a and 8b.
It is also possible to operate according to an embodiment.

  In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements, and the singular does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Moreover, any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of these claims.

Claims (11)

An LED bulb,
A light emitting diode disposed in the housing;
An isolation monitoring device for determining a defect in the housing and disconnecting at least one of the light emitting diodes from a power source when the defect is detected;
Having at least
The LED bulb is adapted to the mains voltage ,
An LED bulb , wherein the isolation monitoring device includes a pressure sensor that measures a pressure of a medium in the housing, and disconnects the light emitting diode from a power source when the measured pressure does not correspond to a predetermined threshold .   2. The LED bulb according to claim 1, wherein the isolation monitoring device includes contact blocking means for disconnecting all of the light emitting diodes from a power source when the defect is detected.   3. The LED bulb according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the isolation monitoring device has contact blocking means for permanently disconnecting the light emitting diode from a power source when the defect is detected.   4. The LED bulb according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a base member that is detachably engaged with a bulb socket to supply power to the light emitting diode. 5. 5. The LED bulb according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light emitting diode is adapted to a main power supply voltage . An LED bulb,
A light emitting diode disposed in the housing;
An isolation monitoring device for determining a defect in the housing and disconnecting at least one of the light emitting diodes from a power source when the defect is detected;
Having at least
The LED bulb is adapted to the mains voltage,
Before Symbol housing has a transparent cover member configured to at least a portion of the light generated by the light emitting diode is transmitted, the isolation monitoring device detects a defect of the cover member,
The isolation monitoring device includes a transmitter that supplies a detection signal, and a detector that is arranged to receive the detection signal transmitted to the transmitter by the cover member, and from the detection signal Determining a failure of the cover member;
The LED light bulb , wherein the transmitter is a light source and the detector is a photodetector . An LED bulb,
A light emitting diode disposed in the housing;
An isolation monitoring device for determining a defect in the housing and disconnecting at least one of the light emitting diodes from a power source when the defect is detected;
Having at least
The LED bulb is adapted to the mains voltage,
The housing has a transparent cover member configured to transmit at least a portion of the light generated by the light emitting diode; the isolation monitoring device detects a defect in the cover member;
The isolation monitoring device includes a transmitter that supplies a detection signal, and a detector that is arranged to receive the detection signal transmitted to the transmitter by the cover member, and from the detection signal Determining a failure of the cover member;
LED bulb before Symbol transmitter excites a vibration signal within said cover member, said detector for receiving the vibration signal. A lighting fixture comprising the LED bulb according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , and a bulb socket detachably engaged with the LED bulb. A method of operating an LED bulb having at least one light emitting diode and a housing and adapted to a main power supply voltage, comprising:
Measuring the pressure of the medium in the housing, and if the measured pressure does not correspond to a predetermined threshold, the at least one light emitting diode is disconnected from the power source;
Method.   A method of operating an LED bulb having at least one light emitting diode and a housing and adapted to a main power supply voltage, comprising:
  The housing has a transparent cover member configured to transmit at least a portion of the light generated by the light emitting diode;
  The at least one light emitting diode is disconnected from a power source based on an amplitude and / or phase shift of an optical signal transmitted from the optical transmitter through the cover member;
Method.   A method of operating an LED bulb having at least one light emitting diode and a housing and adapted to a main power supply voltage, comprising:
  The housing has a transparent cover member configured to transmit at least a portion of the light generated by the light emitting diode;
  The at least one light emitting diode is disconnected from a power source based on an amplitude and / or phase shift of a vibration signal transmitted from the transmitter through the cover member;
Method.

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